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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment for depression that hasn’t responded to medication. Our program was developed and is led by the clinician-scientists of the Precision Psychiatry Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine. We engage in groundbreaking research, develop new TMS protocols and other technologies and offer fMRI-guided, individualized treatment.
Our clinical program is launching in early 2027. To learn more, contact our referral coordinator, Melanie Cabrera, at mec4002@med.cornell.edu.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses focused magnetic pulses, like those used in MRI, to stimulate brain regions that regulate mood. In depression, activity in these regions is often reduced. A course of TMS is designed to restore healthier activity in this network, which can relieve depression in people for whom medications haven’t worked well enough.
TMS is non-invasive and doesn’t involve medication, anesthesia or sedation. You remain awake and seated in a chair while an electromagnetic coil device positioned against the scalp delivers brief pulses that feel like a light tapping. Most people resume their daily activities, including driving, immediately after a session.
TMS has been proven equal to another FDA-approved device used to treat major depressive disorder, and is supported by a large body of clinical research. It is an established treatment, not an experimental one.
Our program was created and is guided by clinician-scientists of the Precision Psychiatry Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, the same investigators whose research has helped define how depression is understood and treated with brain stimulation. Immanuel Elbau, M.D., Ph.D., leads the program, and scientific leadership is provided by Conor Liston, M.D., Ph.D., and Charles Lynch, Ph.D. Because our care is delivered by experts who helped develop this advanced treatment, we rely on current evidence rather than long-standing convention.
We provide TMS as an insurance-covered treatment, and our team helps you navigate your coverage. We work with most major commercial plans, Medicare and Medicaid, and we manage prior authorization so you don’t have to.
Conventional TMS often positions the electromagnetic device (coil) based on the typical brain anatomy (fixed scalp measurement). Our research initiatives focus on fMRI, which can identify your specific brain-network targets and then individualize treatments using neuronavigation, a unique map of your brain anatomy. We offer fMRI treatments as part of clinical trials that don’t involve medications or placebos.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, we may recommend TMS if you experience:
TMS is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, for major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant depression and depression with anxious features. TMS for OCD is FDA-cleared, but insurance coverage is less consistent, and our team will verify your specific benefits before treatment begins.
Unsure whether you qualify? Contact us to learn more.
Weill Cornell Medicine offers TMS treatment for depression, and a newer accelerated protocol for patients who need a faster course.
Your team will work with you to determine the appropriate protocol for you at your evaluation.
If you’re considering transcranial magnetic stimulation, here is what to expect from start to finish.
You sit in a chair, awake and alert. The device rests against your scalp and delivers pulses that feel like a gentle tapping. With iTBS, each session involves about three minutes of stimulation. You may read, listen to music or rest. Afterward, there’s no recovery period, and you may drive yourself home.
TMS rarely causes side effects. If side effects occur, they’re generally mild. The most common side effects include short-term scalp discomfort or a mild headache during the first week, which typically go away on their own.
Our care is provided by leaders in the field who have extensive experience in interventional psychiatry, neuromodulation and brain imaging.
TMS for treatment-resistant depression is covered by most major commercial insurance plans, Medicare and New York Medicaid. It is an established, FDA-cleared treatment, and our standard iTBS-based TMS is covered on this basis. Our team verifies your benefits and determines your coverage.
Insurance coverage for TMS is the same whether you receive traditional TMS or fMRI-guided targeting through one of our studies. Study participation is at no cost to you. The fMRI is provided through our research program and doesn’t affect insurance coverage.
Most plans require prior authorization before treatment begins. Before treatment begins, our team will verify benefits, assemble documentation, submit authorization, plan coverage and your out-of-pocket costs.
Criteria vary by plan, but your insurance company may require a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, a history of ongoing depression despite at least two attempts at antidepressant medication, and, for some plans, documentation of a psychotherapy trial, along with standard clinical documentation from your evaluation. If you’re an ideal candidate for TMS, we will provide all of this information to your insurance company.
Note: Accelerated iTBS is a newer protocol and isn’t yet reliably covered by insurance; it is offered on a fee-for-service basis.
Our research initiative focuses on advancing innovative methods in mental health treatment at the Precision Psychiatry Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine. We explore how brain networks affect mood and the mechanisms of brain stimulation therapies to provide more personalized care.
Currently, we have several studies open for enrollment, including clinical trials and observational research. Participation is voluntary and separate from clinical treatment, and eligibility is determined during a screening visit. Compensation is offered for participation.
Interested patients and referring providers can learn about current research studies and recent publications here.
To see if you are eligible for our research and clinical trials open to enrollment, click here.
To learn more about our clinical program launching in early 2027, contact Melanie Cabrera at mec4002@med.cornell.edu.
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We make the referral process straightforward and manage each step on your behalf, from insurance coverage to clinical evaluations. As the referring provider, you continue to direct your patient's overall care.
Contact Melanie Cabrera, our referral coordinator, at mec4002@med.cornell.edu to refer or discuss a patient.
Follow the Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Psychiatry for updates from our team and developments in depression care.
